What is a Codex?

[Captain Semper]

Hi everybody,

 

Recent discussion about the background of DAs and the discussion about one/multiple SM codices made me wonder... What is a Codex? A number of things come to mind:

 

* The absolute bible of any given faction.

* The army list.

* The background.

* The overall imagery through artwork and the colored section.

 

For years, before BL took such a prominent role in background development, the Codex was the absolute resourse for background and character establishment. Now this dominance is challenged but having more literature floating around is generally a good thing (in my view)...

 

However there is also an element of time. Let me explain.

 

If there is a brand new race/faction introduced then all the above apply equally in my view. People have to learn about where this faction stands in the 40k Universe, how it interacts with other established factions and how does it look. I recall when Tau and Necrons came out, the Codex was hugely important in all of these aspects. To some extent this also applied to the new Dark Eldar since it took so long to be updated - with virtually no background before the previous version. But when a faction is regularly updated (like having a Codex in -almost- every edition of the main rulebook) the background and imagery are well defined and people (rightly so) treat the new Codex as effectively a new army list. Whatever marginal new background might exist aims (mostly) to support new entries in said army list. And fluff accidents might happen... In the writers drive to match the need for new units to the faction's background, new lines of fluff might be developed that will potentially alienate loyal players as the perception of the faction might change materially.

 

So on the subject of SM codices where all the traditionally "main" chapters (and some more on the side) have their background largely established people tend to focus on what new toys there are and whether the list is competive or not. So the question arises: Should the "Codex" system be rendered obsolete? Maybe... The idea behind this is to develop background and rules independently. That way if say a list is not competitive enough, all it'll take to fix it is an update without having to produce a whole "old style" Codex. In this context BL would become even more prominent in background development and several factions will be able to get updated background in time intervals disconnected from the rules/army list production.

 

When a brand new race/faction is introduced then a "traditional" Codex might still be the way to introduce it. This book will assert the "canon" on this race in broad lines and bethe reference on which BL can later base a number of novels to further expand it and add flavor. After some time (or new editions of the game) a new list might be produced -internet might also be used as a prominet medium for that- while the background will continiously evolve keeping the fluff alive!

 

Thoughts?

[Rider-75]

ah, but rewriting full codex = bigger book = more cash for GW.......

 

though i have to agree, with more and more background fluffy stuff appearing, the content of the codices wouldn't need to be so heavy on fluff.

 

however.... for those that like a little fluff for theming armies etc, i think the small amount currently contained keeps them happy. or maybe that little bit makes them think "i'll go read more" and thus hooks them into the BL stuff from the codex.

 

i think as long as GW can make and sell a book at £18 they will......

[Cactus]

I think you've overlooked the importance of the codex / army book to new players, whether they're new to that army or new to the game.

[pueriexdeus]

I personally would like to read the fluff on deep-striking land raiders.

[Interrogator Stobz]

I personally would like to read the fluff on deep-striking land raiders.

 

I haven't got the Apoc rules here, IIRC the THT must land to deploy it's vehicles.

 

The BA dex however says;

 

"Unable to customise the LR so it can keep pace with the Chapters Lucifer-powered Rhinos, the BA uses THTs to drop them directly into the heart of battle, trusting to the tanks sturdy nature to allow safe landing for it and it's crew....."

 

I hope our THTs can do this too in a new dex, especially LRCs with DW and characters.

 

OT, I really like the fluff to be in the dex's. All the BL stuff is a great extra but I do like the one stop shop.

 

Edit;Spelling

[Brother Immolator]

Or better yet deepstrike an imperator class titan....Or throw our battle barges into the enemy armies heads.

 

Sorry for the sarcasm but deepstriking LR's is such a foolish thing as disco dreads(wings of sanquinius)and i dont want rediculus things in our chapter.

Let the BA keep em.